Shoe press



F. DAWSON May 16, 1944.

.SHOE PRE ss Filed 001;. 9. 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 94 F. DAWSON I 2,349,068

Amway F. DAWSON SHOE PRESS Filed Oct. 9, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 16, 1944.

F. DAWSON May 16, 1944.

SHOE PRESS Filed Oct. 9, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. DAWSON May 16, 1944.

SHQE PRESS Filed 001;. 9, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 m \m y g W v w May 16, 1944.

F. DAWSON SHOE PRESS Filed Oct. 9, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 W? D @ZZ a f ha 5 WW Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE PRESS Application October 9, 1942, Seriail No. 461,431

36 Claims.

This invention relates to presses for attaching soles to shoes and relates more particularly to improved apparatus for holding down the welt of a shoe to prevent its curling or warping while it is being cemented to a sole.

As is known, in the cementing of soles to shoes, it is necessary to provide what are known as welt holddowns for preventing the welts or other sole extensions from curling away from the soles when pressure is applied to the sole during the cementing process. In the quantity production of shoes, it is desirable that a single press be used for attaching soles to shoes of varying sizes and shapes, and the usual welt holddown is not adapted to position itself correctly upon the welts of shoes having dififerent sizes and shapes, or to apply the correct pressure thereto.

This invention is particularly suitable for use in a sole attaching press having a dilatable sole pressing pad and a power operated shoe clamping device for clamping a shoe thereagainst.

A feature of this invention resides in having the welt holddown properly positioned against the welt of a shoe being cemented, by the dila tion of an inflatable pad which presses the sole against the shoe upper.

Another feature of this invention resides in having the welt holddown automatically placed by the initial dilation of a sole pressing pad, against the shoe upper for holding same in proper position for contacting the welt, and in having the welt moved against the holddown by further dilation of the pad.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a welt holddown which is adapted to receive shoes of diiferent sizes with an indicator which indicates to the operator the proper position in the holddown, for each size of shoe.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a flexible welt holddown which is shaped to fit in the crease between the shoe upper and the welt and which is power positioned through resilient connections, inwardly against the shoe upper for proper positioning, and against the welt for pressing same against the'sole during the pressing operation.

Another feature of the invention resides in positioning the above described holddown by positioning blocks arranged for universal, motion relative to each other, and to be moved through resilient connections which position the holddown against the shoe upper for holding same in the proper position for receiving the application of pressure by the movement. of the sole against the welt and the shoe upper.

An object of the invention is to improve welt holddowns used in a shoe press having a. dilatable sole pressing padby having the pad operate mechanism for positioningv the holddown properly in the welt crease and upon the welt, during its dilation.

Another object of the invention is to improve Welt holddowns by providing mechanisms for positioning the holddowns properly upon shoes of different sizes and having different shapes.

Another object of the invention is to enable an operator to place quickly and accurately, shoes of different sizes in a shoe press.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view looking downwardly upon a shoe press including a welt holddown embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrates the sole pressing pad as inflated;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in section, along the lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but with the sole pressing pad deflated;

Fig. 7 is a view with a portion broken away, along the lines 11 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the lines 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the lines 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a plan view looking upwardly at the bottom of the press of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation, partially in section,

. of the heel end of the press of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the lines l2i2 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 2,'there is shown in the shoe pressing position a shoe press having a base frame casting Ii], the central portion of which is cored out at H, and with the upper marginal face l2 preferably on a level plane. In superposition and firmly secured to the upper face l2 by a somewhat oval shaped clamping ring l3 and spaced bolts I4 is a dilatable pad comprising a flexible lower or shoe clamp operating diaphragm It, a rigid pressure resisting dividing plate [6 and an upper or sole pressing diaphragm I1, these forming two opposed fluid tight chambers l8 and I9, each having a flexible and dilatable diaphragm. The central portion of the dividing plate 16 is preferably contoured to the general shape of a shoe bottom and the sole pressing diaphragm l! in its normal or non-inflated condition rests thereon and assumes the same general shape of a shoe bottom (as shown in Figs. 6 and 8), thus affording easy placement of a shoe in correct position on the diaphragm.

For clamping a shoe and positioned outsole on the diaphragm N, there is provided a toe clamping member 28 having a threaded stem 2i which is screwed into a support 22 slidably mounted on ways 23 provided on the clamp arm 24. The toe clamping member is locked in position by the lock nut 25 and the support 22 may be positioned and secured in place as with a thumb screw. To allow the toe clamp 20 to be moved towards and away from the diaphragm so as to clamp or release a shoe it is freely pivoted on a shaft 26 held in upstanding lugs 21 extending from the base frame I9. Pivoted at 28 to each side of a boss 29 extending transversely of the clamp arm 24 are depending links 30 which at their lower ends pivot on a shaft 3i held in a boss 32 formed on a pressure platen 33. This pressure platen 33 is freely swingable about a shaft 34 held by lugs 35 depending from the base frame I9 and its forward end is adapted to enter the cored out portion I l of the base.

A similar arrangement is provided for clamping the heel end of a shoe and comprises a last cone abutting member 40 having a stem 4i threaded into a beam 42 secured by screws 43 to a bail 44 which straddles the press and which is pivoted at its lower ends to a shaft 45 held in a boss 46 extending transversely of another pressure platen 41. This pressure platen is freely swingable about a shaft 48 held by lugs 49 depending from the base frame I9, and a torsion spring 59 centered on the shaft 49 gives the platen a bias towards the lower diaphragm I5. To keep the bail 44 in an upright position links are pivoted at 52 to each leg of the bail and at their opposite ends to lugs 53 extending from the base frame I 0.

When the chamber I8 is not inflated, the diaphragm I5 will lie against the underside of the dividing plate I6, and the pressure platens 33 and 41 under their spring bias and by virtue of the connections previously described, will elevate the toe and heel shoe clamping members 20 and all. When the lower chamber I8 is inflated by fluid pressure means hereinafter described, the diaphragm I5 will be dilated and will cause a pressure to be exerted on the platens 33 and 41 which have a combined area somewhat greater than the largest shoe bottom causing them to swing downwardly about their pivots and consequently bring the toe and heel clamping members into clamping relation with a shoe placed upon the upper diaphragm H.

An effective arrangement for inflating the chambers I8 and i9, and dilating the diaphragms in a desired sequence to cause the clamping of a shoe to the upper diaphragm I! as previously described and to thereafter dilate the upper diaphragm to conform and press the sole to the shoe is shown in Figs. 2 and 12 and comprises a boss 66 formed on the under side of the dividing plate I6 and having a bore 54 extending throughout its entire length. A conventional plunger type inflating and deflating valve 58 is screw threaded into the bore 54 where it may be coupled to an air chuck 59 of the type described in the Weiss Patent No. 1,945,762, and a fluid, under selected working pressure is introduced through the bore 64 into the lower chamber I8 thus causing the diaphragm I5 to dilate and effect clamping of the shoe. As inflation of the lower chamber is contained and the pressure increases a few pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure, communication to the upper chamber I9 is effected by means of an inflating port formed in the dividing plate I6 and covered on the upper side by a leaf spring valve II secured in place by screws I2. Thus, as

inflation is continued to final sole attaching pressure, fluid under pressure in the lower chamber I8 is admitted into the upper chamber I9 causing dilation of the sole pressing diaphragm I1, which conforms to the shape of the shoe bottom, and presses the sole thereagainst. The operations of the pressure diaphragms I5 and I1 and of the upper and lower chambers I8 and I9 are described in more detail in my copending application, Serial No. 445,432 filed June 2, 1942.

The press is adapted to be used on a machine such as that described in the said Weiss patent and deflation of the press is accomplished by depression of the plunger of the valve 68 which allows the fluid to escape from, and the pressure in the lower chamber I8 to decrease, and as it decreases, the higher pressure in the upper chamber I 9 opens the light leaf spring valve I3 secured on the under side of the dividing plate I6 and covering the deflating port I4, thus allowing the fluid to escape from the upper chamber I9 through the lower chamber I8 and the valve '68 until the pressure reaches atmospheric. During such deflation, the diaphragms return to their normal position and the toe and heel clamps are elevated away from the shoe allowing it to be easily removed and another inserted by passing it between the bails 44.

This invention provides a welt holddown which is operated by the inflation of the above described sole pressing pad to position itself properly upon the welt as will now be described.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 8, and 9 which illustrate the aforedescribed upper and lower chambers of the pad as deflated and the press therefore in position to have a cemented shoe removed and a new shoe to be cemented, inserted, the welt holddown illustrated and to be described is opened or expanded.

The holddown comprises the rubber strip 54 which extends around the Welt 55 of a shoe and is shaped along its inner lower edge to enter the welt crease of the shoe. The outer edge of the strip 54 is substantially flat and contacts the flat inner surfaces 56 of the positioning blocks 51, the strip 54 being held to the blocks 51 by the rocker swivel pins 58, each of which is recessed at one end in the strip 54 and which is journaled in the other end around one of the equalizer rocker pins 59. The blocks 51 have inwardly extending flange portions 60 which extend over and in contact with the upper edge of the strip 54. Except for the two blocks nearest the toe of the shoe to be cemented, the blocks 51 are arranged in pairs, one block of each pair being carried by one end of each of the pins 59 and being pivoted thereabout for permitting different portions of the strip 54 to be rotated in arcs having as centers, the axial centers of the adjacent.

pins 59.

The two blocks 51 nearest the toe end of the shoe are carried by the ends of two pins 59, the other ends of which are pivoted in the sockets in the lower ball shaped ends 81 of the upwardly extending arms 88 which are attached to the two conforming supporting arms 85. (Figs. 2, '7, and 9.)

With reference to Figs. 2 and '7, the toe end of the strip 54 is provided with the reinforcing pins 86 which are inserted in parallel spaced relation therein.

The two heel ends of the holddown are attached at 89 to ends of the springs 90, the other ends of the springs being attached at 9| to the frame ID. This provides flexibility enabling the holddown to be moved further towards the toe end of the press as larger sized shoes are inserted and their toes bear against the toe end of the holddown.

The conforming supporting arms 95 are pivoted at the bolt 19, this enabling themto variably separate and enable the toe end of the holddown to accommodate itself to the toes of shoes. having different sizes and shapes.

The shoe size indicating knob 92 is attached to the arms 80 which are pivoted between their ends at 8| to the press and their lower ends are Piv-v oted at 82 to the arms 83 which in turn are pivoted to the upstanding legs of the strap 84. The strap 84 is attached by the bolt 19 to the arms 85, the bolt 19 forming a pivot as previously described for the arms 85.

The knob 92 on the upper ends of the arms 89 contains the plunger 93 which is downwardly pressed by the spring 95 into one or the other of the numbered notches in the clamp arm 24.

The welt holddown is seen to be attached at its toe end to the arms 85 and through them and the above described connections to the shoe size indicating knob 92. As the welt holddown is moved by the insertion of a shoe it moves the knob 92 to indicate to the operator where the shoe is to be placed.

With no shoe in the press, the springs 99 cause the retraction of the holddown towards the back or heel side of the press until the plunger 93 falls into the notch in the arms 24, above and corresponding to-numeral 5, indicating shoe size, on Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. It will be understood that size is the smallest shoe to be cemented in the embodiment of the invention illustrated When a larger shoe, say size 9, is placed in the press, the operator should move the shoe forward in the welt holddown, against the tension of the springs 99 until the plunger 93 moves over and falls into the notch numbered 9 on the arm 24. The shoe is held in this position while the press is inflated. The tension of the spring- 95 is insufficient to prevent the plunger 93 from being displaced from the notches in the arm 24' upon positive movement by the operator of the holddown.

The method of, and the means fol. DOSitiOning the holddown on the welt by the inflation of the sole pressing pad will now be described,

The rocker pins 59 which interconnect the adjacent blocks 51 of the pairs of positioning blocks and which connect the two blocks 51 adjacent the toe portion of the holddown to the ball shaped ends 8'5 on the arms 88. have the central enlarged bearing portions 6| which are journaled in the lower enlarged ends 94 of the vertical sup.- porting rods 62.

The rods 62 extend substantially vertically through the sleeves 98 which are screwed into the blocks 96, which blocks are pivoted at 61 to the inner ends of the upper positioning arms 65. and are movable upwardly through the blocks 95 against the resistance of the springs 9}. The springs 91 extend between the lower ends of the sleeves 98 and the swivel clevis 99 which are at tached to the lower ends 94 of the rods 62. The tension of the springs 91 is adjustable by screwing the sleeves 98 into or out of the blocksv 9,6 by means of the knurled nuts I09. The nuts Ifil on the upper ends of the rods 62 prevent the rods from falling through the sleeves 98 when there is no upward pressure upon the welt holddown as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 8. As will be de scribed, when there is pressure on the welt holddown resulting from the inflated pad pressing the welt against the holddown, the vertical rods 62 may be moved upwardly through the sleeves 9B for preventing too much pressure by the hold down on the welt, as illustrated by Figs. 2, and 4. The tension of the springs 91 determines the degree of upward, pressure relieving movement, of

the rods 62 when the sole pressure pad is inflated.

The horizontal positioning rods I02 are pivotally attached at their inner ends to the clevis 99 and extend substantially horizontally through the sleeves I03 which are screwed into the blocks I04 which in turn are pivotally mounted at I05 to the upper positioning arms 65. The springs I96.

extend between the blocks I94 and the clevis 99- and oppose the outward movement of the rods I92 through the sleeves I03 when the rods I92 exert pressure upon the welt holddown as will be explained. The tension of the springs I95 is ad.- justed by screwing the sleeves I03 in and out of the blocks I04 by means of the knurled nuts I91. The nuts I98 on the outer ends of the rods I62 prevent the rods from being drawn too far through the sleeves I93 by the action of the springs H16 when no shoe is in the holddown.

The upper positioning arms 65 which have been described as pivotally attached to the substant ally vertically extending rods 62, are pivoted at the pivot studs I09 to the lower supporting arms I In. This enables the arms 65 to move about the substantially vertically extending axes of the studs I09 for moving the rods I02 and the welt holddown to which they are attached. in a substantially horizontal plane for positioning the holddown strip 54 around a shoe upper as will be described.

The lower positioning arms III] are pivoted about the horizontal pivot pins III to the press frame and have the adjusting studs II2 loosely fitted in apertures in their lower, inner ends. The studs I I2 have the springs I I3 extending between their heads II4 and the lower ends of the arms III), which springs serve to oppose downward recession of the studs through the lower ends of the arms H9. The nuts II5 which are screwed on the lower ends of the studs prevent the springs from retracting the studs too far when there is no. pressure on the heads I Id of the studs.

The lower operating plates I16 are formed as extensions on the aforedescribed pressure platen 33, in alignment with the rounded heads H4 of the studs H2 and serve to move the lower posi tioning arms IIll upwardly about the horizontal pivot pins III when the sole pressing pad is inflated. The springs II1 interconnect the lower ends. of the lower arms III) and act to move the lower arms H9, the upper arms 65 and the rods I02 for expanding or opening up the welt holddown when the sole pressing pad is deflated.

Figs. 6, 8, and 9 illustrate the pad as deflated and the welt holddown as out of contact with the welt of a shoe. Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 illustrate the pad as inflated and the welt holddown in position upon the welt.

In operation, with the press deflated, the operator inserts a shoe in the holddown and moves it and the holddown forward until the plunger 93-of the indicator knob 92 falls in the notch in the arm 24 numbered to correspond to the size of the shoe inserted. The operator then operates the air chuck 69 which admits air into the lower chamber I8 causing the diaphragm I5 to dilate and effect clamping of the shoe as previously described.

When the lower chamber is thus inflated, the plates H6 on the platen 33 are moved downwardly against the-heads H4 of the studs H2 causing the studs to press, through the springs I I3, against the lower ends of the lower positioning arms I I0, causing same to move upwardly about the pivot pins I II. This upward movement of the lower arms H causes the upper arms 65 to move inwardly towards the shoe in the press, and causes the horizontal rods I02, through the springs I06, clevis 99, the lower ends 94 of the vertical rods 62, the rocker pins 59 and the blocks 51, to move the holddown strip 54 inwardly against the shoe upper in position to meet the welt of the shoe when the shoe is moved upwardly in the press by the inflation of the upper chamber l9.

When the upper chamber is inflated, the shoe is moved upwardly by the pressure of the upper diaphragm I'l against its sole. This moves the welt 55 of the shoe up to meet the holddown strip 54 which is moved by the inward pressure of the springs I06 on horizontal rods I02 into the welt crease as illustrated by Fig. 4.

Considerable upward pressure is extended upon the welt holddown and to ensure that this pressure is just sufiicient and no more, the vertical rods may move upwardly through the sleeves 98 in the blocks 96 against the resistance of the springs 91, thus causing upward movement of the holddown blocks 51, permitting the holddown strip 54 to move upwardly and relieve the pressure upon the welt.

It is seen that the motion of the holddown strip 54 in a substantially horizontal plane through the pivoting of the upper arms 65 about the substantially vertical axes through the pivot studs I09, together with the rocking motion provided by the rocker pins 59 in the rod ends 94 and in the blocks 51, the holddown strips have substantially universal motion and may be positioned correctly by the movement of the horizontal rods I02 upon the welts of shoes having different sizes and shapes.

While one embodiment of the invention ha been described for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact apparatus and arrangement of apparatus illustrated, as modifications thereof may be suggested by those skilled in the art without departure from the essence of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to apply pressure to the welt of a shoe upon said pad.

2. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for closing said holddown.

3. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close in the welt crease of a shoe upon said pad and to apply pressure to the welt of the shoe.

4. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means actuated by partial inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close around the upper of a shoe upon said pad, and means including said means and said pad and actuated by further inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to fit in the welt crease of the shoe and to apply pressure to the welt thereof.

5. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by partial inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close around the upper of a shoe upon said pad and to space itself from said pad so as to be in position to contact and exert pressure upon the welt of the shoe upon further inflation of the pad.

I 6. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close in the welt crease of a shoe upon said pad and to apply pressure to the welt of the shoe, said means including resilient holddown closing means.

7. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close in the welt crease of a shoe upon said pad and to apply pressure to the welt of the shoe, said means including resilient means for applying pressure to the welt.

8. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for causing said holddown to close in the welt crease of a shoe upon said pad and to apply pressure to the welt of the shoe, said means including resilient holddown closing means and separate resilient means for applying pressure to the welt.

9. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned arms carrying said holddown and pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and means actuated by inflation of said pad for causing said arms to move to close said holddown.

10. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned arms carrying said holddown and pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, means actuated by inflation of said pad for causing said arms to move to close said holddown, and resilient means for opening said holddown upon deflation of said pad.

11. A shoe press comprising a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper and oppositely positioned lower arms carrying said holddown, said lower arms being pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad.

12. A shoe press comprising a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper and oppositely positioned lower arms carrying said holddown, said lower arms being pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad, said means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to yieldably fit in the welt creases of different sizes and shapes oi shoes in said press.

13. A shoe press icompriing a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper and oppositely positioned lower arms carrying said holddown, said, lower arms being pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said -holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad,

said means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to yield with the movement ofthe welt of a shoe in said press when too great a pressure is exerted between the holddown and welt.

14. A shoe press comprising a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper and oppositely positioned lower arms carrying said holddown, said lower arms being pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad, said means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to fit in the welt creases of different sizes and shapes of shoes in said press and for permitting the holddown to yield with the movement of the welts of the shoes when too great pressures are exerted between'the welts and the holddown.

15. A shoe press comprising a welt holddown, means in said press carrying said holddown and providing movement thereof longitudinally of said press and towards the shoe toe receiving end thereof, resilient means opposing the movement of said holddown towards said end, and means including means connected to said holddown and movable therewith for indicating to an operator the proper position in said press for a particular size shoe when moved in said holddown towards said end.

16. A shoe press comprising a welt holddown,

means including oppositely positioned arms carrying said holddown and pivoted for providing opening and closing of said holddown and pivoted for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of said press towards the shoe toe receiving end thereof, resilient means opposing the movement of said holddown towards said end, and means including means connected to said holddown and movable therewith for indicating to an operator the proper position in said press for a particular size shoe when moved in said holddown towards said end.

17. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means including holddown, oppositely positioned lower arms connected to said upper arms, means pivoting said lower arms to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for moving said arms to close said holddown, said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad.

19. A shoe press comprising an inflatable, sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper arms carrying said holddown, oppositely positioned lower arms connected to said upper arms, means pivoting said lower arms to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for moving said arms to close said holddown, said first mentioned means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to yieldably fit in the welt creases of different sizes and shapes of shoes.

20. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown, means including oppositely positioned upper arms carrying said holddown, oppositely positioned lower arms connected to said upper arms, means pivoting said lower arms to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for moving said arms to close said holddown, said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on aid pad, said first mentioned means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to yield with the movement of the welt of a shoe upon said pad when too great a pressure is exerted between the holddown and welt.

'21. A shoe press comprising an inflatable sole pressing pad, a 'welt'holddown, mean including oppositely positioned upper arms carrying said holddown, oppositely positioned lower arms connected to said upper arms, means pivoting said lower arms to said press for-providing closing movement to said holddown, and means act-uated by the inflation of said pad for moving said arms toclose said holddown, said upper arms being pivoted to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad, said first mentioned means including resilient connections between said upper arms and said holddown for permitting said holddown to fit in the welt creases of different sizes and shapes of shoes and for permitting the holddown to yield 'with the movement of the welts of the shoes when too great pressures are exerted between the welts and holddowns.

'22. In a shoe press, a weltholddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, and means rotatably attaching blocks of said pairs to each other and said rods.

23. "In a shoe 'pressya welt *holddowncompris- 'ing a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks'attached to said strip, rotary pins interconnecting the blocks of each of said pairs and having their ends journaled therein for providing rotation of said blocks about the axes of 'said'pins, and rods for positioning said "holddownhaving-ends journaled on said pins between said blocks.

24. In a shoe "press, 'a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to said strip, rotary pins extending substantially parallel to adjacent portions of said stripand interconnecting the f'blocks of each of said pairs and having their ing a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to the opposite longitudinal sides of said strip, holddown positioning.

rods, means rotatably attaching blocks of said pairs to each other and to said rods, pivoted supporting arms at the toe end of said strip, other positioning blocks attached to said strip on opposite sides of the toe end thereof, and means rotatably attaching said other blocks to said arms.

26. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to the opposite longitudinal sides of said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching blocks of said pairs to each other and to said rods, pivoted supporting arms at the toe end of said strip, other positioning blocks attached to said strip on opposite sides of the toe end thereof, other holddown positioning rods, and means rotatably attaching said other blocks to said arms and to said other positioning rods.

27. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to said strip along the opposite longitudinal sides thereof, rotary pins interconnecting the blocks of each of said pairs and having their ends journaled therein for providing rotation of said blocks about the axes of said pins, rods for positioning said holddown having ends journaled on said pins between said blocks, pivoted supporting arms at the toe end of said strip, other positioning blocks attached to said strip on opposite sides of the toe end thereof, other holddown positioning rods,

7 and means rotatably connecting said other blocks to said arms and to said other positioning rods.

28. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the Welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, and means rotatably attaching said members to said rods.

29. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip along the opposite longitudinal sides thereof, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching said members to said rods, pivoted supporting arms at the toe end of said strip, other positioning members attached to said strip on opposite sides of the toe end thereof, other holddown positioning rods, and means rotatably attaching said other members to said arms and to said other positioning rods.

30. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching said members to said rods whereby said strip is carried by said rods, and means for swinging said rods for moving said strip longitudinally of a shoe in said press.

31. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to said strip,

holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching blocks of said pairs to each other and to said rods whereby said strip is carried by said rods, and means for swinging said rods for moving said strip longitudinally of a shoe in said press.

32. In a shoe press, an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching said members to said rods, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for moving said rods, said means, said members and said strip to close said holddown. I

33. In a shoe press, an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of pairs of spaced positioning blocks attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching blocks of said pairs to each other and to said rods, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad for moving said rods, said means, said blocks and said strip to close said holddown.

34. In a shoe press, an inflatable sole pressing pad, a welt holddown comprising a resilient strip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching said members to said rods, oppositely positioned upper arms attached to said rods, oppositely positioned lower arms pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, said upper arms being pivotally attached to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad, and means actuated by the inflation of said pad and including said arms, said rods, said members, aid first mentioned means and said strip for closing said holddown.

35. In a shoe press, an inflatable sole pressing pad, a Welt holddown comprising a resilient trip shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe, a plurality of spaced positioning members attached to said strip, holddown positioning rods, means rotatably attaching said members to said rods, oppositely positioned upper arms attached to said rods, oppositely positioned lower arms pivoted to said press for providing closing movement to said holddown, said upper arms being pivotally attached to said lower arms for providing movement of said holddown longitudinally of a shoe on said pad, means actuated by the partial inflation of said pad for moving said arms, said rods, said members, said first mentioned means and said strip to close said holddown around the upper of a shoe and to space-said holddown from said pad so as to be in position to contact the welt of the shoe upon further inflation of said pad.

36. In a shoe press, a welt holddown comprising a flexible holddown strip having a toe portion shaped to fit in the welt crease of a shoe around the toe thereof, and means for reinforcing said toe portion comprising a plurality of substantially parallel, substantially non-resilient members extending in said portion substantially perpendicular to the welt contacting base thereof.

FRED DAWSON. 

